The reign of EVIL has come to an end. At New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Summer Struggle in Jingu event, EVIL dropped the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships back to Tetsuya Naito.
Their main event match was going about as you would expect. EVIL and Dick Togo were cheating rampantly and eventually, Los Ingobernables de Japon had seen enough. BUSHI and SANADA fought off Togo and Gedo, allowing Naito to have a fighting chance. That is all he needed as El Ingobernable hit two Destinos to regain his titles.
Naito had never truly gotten his moment to shine as champion earlier this year. His initial title win was ruined by KENTA at Wrestle Kingdom 14 and then the pandemic hit. Now, he finally got his moment. As he stood in the ring with his newly won belts, Naito thanked the fans for fighting with him. He said we are all going through difficult times but there is a bright light at the end of this.
EVIL had won the titles from Naito at Dominion after turning heel and joining Bullet Club. At least in recent years, heels typically don’t have long title reigns as heavyweight champion in New Japan. While this is likely not the last we’ve seen of EVIL as a main eventer, it is truly now Naito’s time. The show went off the air with Tetsuya Naito posing with fireworks erupting overhead.
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